Sigma 38 Nationals at the WPNSA - Preview
by Cailah Leask 28 Apr 2011 09:49 BST
30 April - 2 May 2011
Over 150 yacht racers will be heading to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) this coming long May Bank Holiday weekend for the 2011 Sigma 38 OOD National Championships running April 30th to May 2nd. The Sigma 38 yacht design may be in its second decade but the Sigma Class Association has kept this hugely popular racing fleet as a source for quality racing events.
In keeping with top rated regattas this year the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is the venue of choice for the Sigma 38s National Championships sponsored again by Towergate Mardon.
Nigel Goodhew, Sigma 38 Class Chairman, commented on the success of the class which has claimed a new record as the most active one design cruiser / racer class in Europe.
‘In the past three years we have seen the participation rates in the Sigma 38 one design racing rise to levels not regularly seen this century. With the Games venue on our doorstep and sports event very much in our nation’s minds we wanted to celebrate this resurgence of the racing class by hosting our annual National Championships at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy’.
Racing will take place in the deep waters of Weymouth Bay ideal for the demanding Olympic style courses that are on offer for participants this year on the same waters that will hail medal winners during the 2012 summer of sport.
To hark back to tradition and the offshore one design ethos Sigmas have been renowned for since the 1980s, there will also be a long coastal race day where tactical and navigational skills as much as sail and boat handling will be at a premium.
John Tweed, Chief Executive of the WPNSA, commented, ‘the Sigma 38 Class Association has been working towards hosting their flag ship event at our international sailing venue for three years and it is an honour to be involved with such an iconic UK yacht racing class that clearly has such a successful ingredient for longevity. I am glad that we can offer the variety of both short course and longer coastal racing for the new 2011 set up as well as supplying sufficient onshore social facilities for the 150 plus participants’.
For press access to the event including the chance to sail with some of the crews please contact Paul Fenner, email or telephone 07904 311653.